Israelis and Palestinians need to engage in serious negotiations to implement the Road Map, a senior Palestinian spokesman said on Monday, in response to remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesman for Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas said what was required were deeds, not words.
The Road Map and the Arab peace initiative should be the basis of these negotiations, Abu Rudeina said. He added that United Nations Resolution 194 regarding the return of refugees should be implemented.
Olmert made conciliatory comments during a speech marking the memorial service for late Israeli prime minister David Ben-Gurion.
“Once Gilad Shalit is released safely and returns to his family, the government of Israel will be prepared to release many Palestinian prisoners, including those who were sentenced to long-term periods,” Olmert said.
He added that Israel was prepared to evacuate territories in exchange for true peace, and asked the Palestinians to give up the idea of the right of return for refugees.
Senior Hamas member Mousa Abu Marzouq said the Palestinian people rejected any proposed settlement that did not include the return of refugees.
Washington has expressed satisfaction with Olmert’s remarks.
United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice might confer separately with Olmert and ‘Abbas while she is in the Middle East this week.
There are talks of a summit between the leaders, but no date has been set for the meeting.
Their respective advisers are scheduled to meet on Wednesday to lay the groundwork for a high-level meeting and to discuss maintaining the cease-fire that came into effect in Gaza on Sunday morning.